ARSENE WENGER mocked Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that Arsenal are a team in transition with a famous win over Manchester United that left the Gunners insisting they can win the title this season.

Emmanuel Adebayor's 86th-minute strike ended United's 100 per cent start to the season and Wenger claimed the result proved Fergie had no business writing off Arsenal.

"Everybody was writing us off after our first three games of the season," Wenger said. "But this result has sent the right signal out to everyone else in the Premiership."

And yesterday's Grand Slam Sunday, when last season's top four were in action, saw 10-man Chelsea emerge as the other big winners, despite Michael Ballack's straight red card, thanks to a wonder strike by Didier Drogba against Liverpool.

United boss Fergie had dismissed Arsenal as a team going through major changes on the eve of the game, citing their derisory haul of two points from their opening three games as proof of their demise. "We are not a team in transition," said Wenger, whose side moved from 17th to 10th in the table. "I have never believed that. Yes, we are a young side, but we are ambitious and we want to win the title.

"We can win the title this season but if you had listened to everybody after our first two games, you would think we would be playing in the Championship next season."

A mistake from Cristiano Ronaldo allowed Cesc Fabregas to set up Adebayor for the winner, after Arsenal skipper Gilberto Silva had a first-half penalty saved by United debutant Tomasz Kuszczak.

United boss Fergie accepted Arsenal were worthy winners and said: "We looked tired in the second half and Arsenal were the stronger side in the last 25 minutes. They deserved to win the match."